THE 900-YR SEDIMENTARY RECORD OF LAGO THOMPSON,

NORTHERN CHILEAN PATAGONIAN. Fagel1, L. Nuttin1, S. Bertrand2,3, G. Borgniet1, S. Schmidt4, A. Araneda5,6, F. Torrejon5,6 and R. Urrutia5,6

(1)AGEs - Clays, Sedimentary environments and Geochemistry, Department of Geology, University of Liege, Belgique; (2) Renard Center of Marine Geology, University of Ghent, Belgium; (3) Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, USA; (4) Département de Géologie et Océanographie, Bordeaux, France; (5) Aquatic Systems Research Unit, EULA – University of Concepcion, Chile; (6) Patagonian Ecosystems Research Center (CIEP), Coyhaique, Chile – nathalie.fagel@ulg.ac.be

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS - This research is funded by Chilean and Belgian projects (Fondecyt project number 1070508, and FNRS crédits au chercheur 1360 2007-2010, respectively).

STUDY AREAWe investigate the sedimentary record of Lago Thompson, a small lake (area 1.1 km2, watershed ~8 km2) located at an elevation of 750 masl in Northern Chilean Patagonia (45.38 °S, 71.47°W). The present-day climate conditions around the lake are relatively dry (annual precipitation ~500 mm), and the local vegetation is dominated by pasturelands and remnants of the native Subantarctic Nothofagus forest.

MATERIAL and METHODIn 2008, we surveyed the lake bathymetry with an echo-sounder and we collected several 1m-long sediment cores with an Uwitec gravity corer. We conducted a multiproxy study combining sedimentological, mineralogical and geochemical analyses (LOI 105, 550 and 950°C, biogenic silica content by NaOH leaching, magnetic susceptibility, bulk organic geochemistry, bulk mineralogy by X-ray diffraction,). Visual descriptions and X-ray radiographies demonstrate that the sediment record is undisturbed.

The age model is based on 5 AMS radiocarbon ages measured on bulk sediment and organic macro-remains the sediment cores cover the last 850 to 950 years. This sediment record, which is characterized by accumulation rates ranging between 1 and 3 mm/yr, can be studied at decennial to centennial resolution.

C. Sediment components

Detrital matter ~ runoffBio Si ~ Paleoproductivity proxy

The biogenic silica content of the sediment retrieved in Lago Thompson is high (40 to 80%), and probably related to the small catchment to lake surface ratio, which limits the supply of terrestrial particles to the lake.

Higher concentrations in biogenic silica and organic matter between 1550 and 1800 AD could be interpreted as drier climate conditions in the Andes of Northern Patagonia during the Little Ice Age.

Further research will focus on biological proxies (Pollen, diatom, chironomid) to improve this interpretation.

Lago Thompson

Latitude 45°38’S

Longitude 71°47'W

Altitude 750 m

Depth 15 m

Length 124,7 cm

The goal = to evaluate the natural climate variability over the Last Millennium in Northern Chilean Patagonia

Homogeneous clay

Laminated clay

Tephra

Continuous laminationDiscontinuous lamination

Diatomées: Aulacoseira Itallica64 µm

% Biogenic silica vs. age (year AD)

Little Ice Age?

% organic matter

% detrital matter

Teph

ra ?

The sediment is composed of light brown organic-rich clayey material. The lower part of the core (below 75 cm) is finely laminated whereas the upper part is more homogeneous.

A. Lithology

B. Physical and geochemical parameters

Magnetic susceptibility: High values highlight two tephra layers that represent explosive eruptions of volcanoes from the southern volcanic zone of Chile (Hudson, Cay, or Macá volcanoes).

X-ray diffraction: The inorganic content of the sediment is very low. Only some clay minerals, quartz and feldspars were identified.

Organic geochemistry: The low C/N ratio (~ 8-9) of the bulk organic matter evidences that most of the organic particles originate from aquatic productivity.

LOI: The high organic matter content (mean 15%, concentrations reaching up to 20%) and its low C/N ratio provide evidence that the lake productivity remained high over the last 900 years.

Inorganic Geochemistry

Organic Geochemistry

RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION